Your best friend in a foreign city

Top 10 places in Zagreb for kids

Top 10 places in Zagreb for kids

1. Take a 64 seconds ride with the shortest funicular railway in the world

This 66 metre long funicular that connects Downtown (Tomićeva street) with Upper Town (Lotrščak tower) is the oldest public transportation in Zagreb, and kids are loving it from 1890. It is the shortest and the safest railway / public transportation in the world because last year (2015) Zagreb funicular celebrated the 125th anniversary without any accidents. Funicular is departing in every ten minutes with maximum capacity of 28 passengers. If you fail to take panoramic photo during the short ride do not panic, from the upper station you can get a fantastic view.

2. Pose behind the big scale model of city in bronze

It is located in open area between main Ban Jelačić square and Kaptol so you can’t miss it on the way up to the Zagreb Cathedral. Almost 4 metre long and wide, scale model of the city (like big Lego model in bronze) by the name “Zagreb welcomes you” is representing 2.64 kilometers large urban area which displays most of historic sights and tourist attractions in Zagreb. If your kids love city scale models like this we recommend you to visit Zagreb City Museum (Opatička 20)!

3. See the largest model of railway in this part of Europe

BackoMini Express is 75m² large model of railway which is spreading on 8 levels, 1050m of tracks with 120 trains and 260 railroad switches, 4 bridges, 20 tunnels and 100 traffic lights. This model of railway also contains 800 figurines, 1600 trees, 90 houses and various effects – daytime and nighttime mode, driving through the rain, thunders and lightnings. This railway model also consists lots of details like broken cars, phone cabins, people in front of the church, firefighters, carriage ect… So, Backo Mini Express is the ultimate experience for children and Peter Pan syndrome parents in Zagreb! Choo-Choo!!!

4. Catch a free ride with little blue tourist train

Every weekend from 10am to 19:20pm you can catch a free ride with a little tourist train from Ban Jelačić square. Train runs in every 40 minutes from Zagreb main square through Ilica street (the main artery of the city) and Frankopanska street, and then turns to Masarykova street nearby Croatian National Theater. From there it is going through Praška and Jurišićeva street, passes by a large post office building and Stock Market and then returns back to main city square. It is a great chance to rest your feet and put a smile on your kids faces!

5. Learn about scary Zagreb mummy

Zagreb mummy – famous relic from permanent Egyptian collection in Archeological museum is Nesi-hensu – a wife of Paher-hensu who was well known tailor from Thebes. The Egyptian mummy is wrapped in linen bandages with text in Etruscan language well known as Zagreb Linen Book – the world longest surviving manuscript in Etruscan language. Enigmatic mummy dates from year 390 BC and by strange historical roads its journey ends in Zagreb. Only for brave kids! Don’t close your eyes!

6. Experience the impossible and explore the Museum of illusions

This new museum became an instant hit in town, immediately after its opening. Located in Ilica street, near British square, the Museum of Illusions is a perfect place for new experiences and fun for your children ! In Ames room, perfect for funny photos, in one corner you are a giant and in the other – a dwarf. Anti-gravity room feels like you are on few beers. Rotated room, Infinity room with mirrors, optical illusions and holograms will challenge your mind! Photos from this unique museum will be total show when you come home!

Few blocks south from the Croatia National Theatre is located Zagreb Technical museum Nikola Tesla. Dedicated to the scientific and engineering genius Nikola Tesla, museum has fun and educational Tesla demonstration laboatory. Like Dexter’s! Real submarine, airplanes, trams and cars will astonish kids and prepare them for starry sky in the Planetarium. Special attraction of the museum is 350 meter long model of mine below the museum. Science is fun so dive into it in Croatia, Nikola Tesla native country!

In eastern part of the city (from Ban Jelačić square catch 11 or 12 tram heading to Dubec or Dubrava, and exit Bukovačka) and across the Maksimir stadium within beautiful Maksimir park there is Zagreb Zoo. Seven hectare wide area is home for around 275 animal species. Recently reconstructed Zagreb Zoo is great place for family half-day fun. You can even adopt animals! Find out how and don’t miss to cruise around spectacular Maksimir park with 5 lakes with marked paths and playgrounds.

Where: Zoo Zagreb, Maksimirski perivoj bb

When: every day 09.00 – until the end of day light (seasonal opening and closing times changes at the beginning of each month). Ticket office closes 60min before the closing time and 90 min before the closing in summer months.

9. March and follow infantry and calvary rank in ceremony „Changing of the guard“

Dressed as Croatian regiment of Royal Cravattes, 17 soldiers take part in the ceremony through Upper and Downtown. In game of dividing and merging, infantry and calvary soldiers are marching through the city and make a change of the guard at St’ Mark’s square, Ban Jelačić square and at the statue of Our Lady at Kaptol. Find them on the Zagreb streets and march with armorer, trumpeter, drummer, standard-bearer and commander. And salute them! They don’t give high five!

Where: Changing of the guard, Upper Town and Downtown

When: from 28.03 to late october – every sat and sun, 31.05. 18.10., 01.01., 11:40h – 14:20h

10. Find all planets (including Pluto) of Zagreb solar system

Famous and ingenious instalation of the Zagreb solar system was created in 2004. by artist Davor Preis. He used another cult sculpture Grounded sun in Bogovićeva street as the centre of imaginary solar system. And then using a scale model of the solar system around the sun, he calculated the distance and size of the all other planets and place them all over the Zagreb. Funny part was that the artist never revealed the locations, so the quest, until the last planet was found, lasted 3 years. Can you find them all? Now It’s easy!